What's MOPS?

Six years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child, I remember my sister asking me if I had ever heard about MOPS. What? Of course I mop. Does she not think I won’t sanitize my house with a brand new baby?? “NO, MOPS, as in ‘Mothers of Preschoolers’” Oh, MOPS. No, what is it?? She told me it was a special group for Moms. But I had an infant, not a preschooler, so I didn’t research it much further until I moved to Bakersfield 3 years ago and wanted to meet some new people.

But what exactly is it?? Well, in a nutshell—It’s a place to just hang out with other mommies. We meet every month, have our kids hang out with each other in supervised childcare while we get to listen to a great speaker, eat a nice warm home made meal, and get a chance to just chat or make a small craft. We also have special events throughout the month—play dates with our kids or just a mommies night out. But mostly—it’s a place to bond with other women who are in the same hair raising experience as you….from BIRTH (sleepless nights) to Kindergarten (getting them to sleep) and all the in-between. And we try to be there for each other—through whatever challenges God allows for in our path whether it be an addition to the family or a loss of a loved one.

And you know what I found out—it’s more than what I thought it was, much more….kind of wishing I joined in 6 years ago. And yes...you don’t have to wait until your child is a preschooler to be a part of MOPS.

It’s not just me either, here’s what another mommy has to say about the group. “I was 42 years old when I had my first (and last!) child. I was terrified! I knew absolutely nothing about raising a child. Knowing firsthand the power of prayer, I prayed to God to guide me and stay especially close. I began reading parenting books. They all said different things- I began to freak! What was right and what was wrong? I had no idea. I was always asking for advice from moms I knew. I read an article in The Northwest Voice describing how MOPS had helped one of the members through a difficult time. I thought this group sounded like the support I needed. It would be a chance for me to overcome my shyness and meet other mothers, and for my child to learn how to interact with other children. Well, trust my instincts I did! This has been our first year in MOPS and I can’t tell you how it has helped us both! Everyone in the group has been so caring and helpful and understanding and welcoming. My son has grown tremendously and has adjusted well with the other kids. MOPS was definitely just what I had prayed for to guide me during the beginning of this scary journey of parenthood!”

Come check us out—we are the Bridge Bible Church MOPS group. We will be kicking off our year with an open house event at the Riverwalk Park on September 18th from 10A to 12P. We will have some kiddie games, snacks, and an info table. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Playgrounds, Meetups, and Clubs: Raising Bakersfield

What's MOPS?